Sanitary toilet seat



' May 18, 1937.

G. A. 1.0m;

SANITARY TOILET SEAT Filed July 50, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 l I HHHMHHHHHHHU |J 1 \IIH/ I v May 18, 1937. G. A. LONG SANITARY TOILET SEAT Filed July 30, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 1s, 1937. 7

cs. A. LONG SANITARY TOILET SEAT Filed July 30, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1937. G. A. LONG Q 2 ,081,110

SANITARY TOILHET SEAT Filed July 30, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 & F111 llllll 1/7777 Fatented May 18, 1937 UNITED STATES SANITARY TOILET SEAT George A. Long, Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Electric Steam sterilizing Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 30, 1935, Serial No. 33,836

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of devices above named, and an object of the invention, among others, is to provide a structure by the use of which a toilet seat may be thoroughly sterilized.

One form of an apparatus embodying the invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a sterilizing apparatus embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the same with parts broken away to show construction.

Figure 3 is a top View. 1

Figure 4 is a view on enlarged scale in front elevation of one side of the apparatus, the doors being removed.

Figure 5 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 55 of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a view in front elevation of a portion of the device with parts broken away to show construction.

Figure 7 isa view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line passing through the main operating shaft illustrating the apparatus for operating the doors.

Figure 8 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 88 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a face view of the doors showing the means for sealing the joint underneath and between the two doors.

Figure 10 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line llll0 of Fig. 9.

While attempts have heretofore been made to sterilize toilet seats it has been impossible to effect a perfectly sanitary condition for the reason that the bowl upon which the toilet seat rests presents an unsanitary problem owing to the impracticability of sterilizing the same. The seat structures are such as to not certainly prevent contact with the bowl and this is therefore a source of danger. In carrying out my invention I have provided means to effectually eliminate this danger so that when the toilet seat is sterilized the entire structure with which the human anatomy makes contact is sterilized and rendered sanitary.

Such apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which the numeral l2 denotes a bowl of ordinary construction and composed of usual material, and I3 denotes a case which is supported relatively to the bowl, being fastened in any suitable manner and which rises above the bowl at the back thereof. This case contains apparatus for generating steam for sterilizing purposes, but as this apparatus of itself does not embody my invention a detailed showing and description thereof is omitted herein, it being sufiicient to state that it may be of a general character illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent to Peterson, No. 1,877,689, dated Sept. 13, 1932 to which reference is hereby made for such further understanding of such apparatus as may be desired.

The case l3 has doors M for closing the opening thereintmthese doors having hinges I5 at their side edges whereby said doors open laterally. 'The case also contains other operative parts of the apparatus to be more particularly described hereinafter. Pintles l6 for the hinges of the doors l4 have segments ll of pinions secured thereto, said segments each being in mesh with a rack l8 mounted on a pivot I9. An operating arm is yieldingly connected with the rack I8 as by means of a spring 2| whereby force'applied to this arm will partially rotate the rack [8. A link 22 connects the arm 20 with a slide 23 suitably mounted at the back of the case I3, said slide having a stud 24 projecting into a cam groove in a cam 25 rotatably mounted on a main operating shaft 26 extending across the chamber in the case l3 and supported at one end in the back of the case and at its opposite end in the web of a frame to be shortly described. It will be understood that the parts just referred to are appurtenant to each of the doors M.

The cam 25 is operatively connected as by means of gear teeth on its periphery with any suitable source of driving power, as an electric motor, a showing of which is omitted herein as not essential to an understanding of the invention, reference being made to the above mentioned patent for a showing of such connection if wanted.

The slides 23 for operating the two doors l4 extend in opposite directions toward each other and in different planes, their adjacent ends being forked to straddle the shaft 26 and as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings.

The doors l4 not only close the chamber-in the case l3 but they also close a sterilizing box 21 located within said case and of somewhat oval form, corresponding with that of a toilet seat. This box contains a steam compartment 28 which is closed by a plate 29 of the general contour of the chamber 28 and extending from the bottom edge of the chamber in each door to the meeting edges of the doors at the upper part thereof. This plate secures gaskets 3D in place which effectually seal the joints between the doors and the edges of the boxes 21, it being understood that there is a box on each side of the structure, said boxes meeting at the top of the structure at the vertical center line thereof. These plates 29 and the backs of the doors have depressed portions creating spaces 3| extending lengthwise of the doors !4 and which are employed for cooling purposes.

The seat 32 is composed of a single piece of material of the usual shape of structures of this kind, each of the sides of the seat being pivotally attached to the case l3 by a pivot which comprises a hinge shaft 33 journaled in supports 34 in the form of walls rising from the bottom of the case, and as shown in Figs. 4 and 8 of the drawings, said shaft extending into the side parts of the case, after passing through knuckles 35 forming part of the hinged joint in the ends of the side parts of the seat. The shaft 33 has a segment of a gear 3'! secured thereto.

A supporting frame comprising sides 38 and a web 39 is assembled with the box and extends along its lengthwise center for a portion of its length, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, this frame being mounted on the supports 34 at one end and secured to posts 40 at its opposite end, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, being secured to said parts as by means of screws.

The mechanism for raising and lowering the seat is similar to that hereinbefore described with respect to the doors l4, the gear segment 31 meshing with a rack 4| on a plate 42 rotatably mounted on a shaft 43 projecting at its opposite ends into the supports 34. A spring 44 resiliently connects the rack 4| with a seat operating arm 45 also mounted on the shaft 43, one end of the spring being secured to the plate 42 and its opposite end being secured to the arm 45 thereby providinga yielding force transmitted from the rack 4| to the arm 45. A link 46 connects the arm 45 with a seat operating slide 4'! mounted in the case and with its ends opposite the link 46 straddling the shaft 26 in the same manner as the slides 23 straddle said shaft, and as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Said slide hasa stud projecting into a cam groove in a seat operating cam 48 secured to a sleeve projecting from the cam 25, and as'shown in Fig, 7 of the drawings. This sleeve mounts the cam upon the shaft 26 as hereinbefore described, said shaft at its front end being mounted in the web 39 of the supporting frame comprising the sides 38. From this it will be seen that power applied to the gear on the periphery of the cam 25 will operate the doors l4 and the seat 32, the latter being moved into and out of the steam chamber and the doors closing said chamber both before and after the seat is removed therefrom.

Briefly described the mechanism is started by the operation of an electric switch which may be operated in any suitable manner, as by the deposit of a coin or otherwise. When the switch is thus actuated the mechanism operates to open the doors l4, lower the seat 32, and again close the doors l4 at which time the switch is actuated to stop the operation of the mechanism, this, however, forming no part of my invention.

' When weight is removed from the seat after it has been depressed the switch is again actuated to start the mechanism which operates to open the doors I4, raise the seat into the sterilizing compartment and close the doors, after which the sterilizing operation, as the admission of steam into the chamber, is performed. Steam may be admitted to said chamber as through a pipe 49 in any suitable manner.

In order to provide a steam tight joint at the meeting edges of the upper ends of the doors l4 Where the joint closes the sterilizing chamber, the gaskets are extended across said chamber as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, said gaskets being secured in place by lips 50 projecting from the plates 29 and in position to contact with each other and press one against the other when the doors are closed.

An important feature of my invention resides in means for preventing contact with the bowl of a person resting on the seat and more particularly at the front end thereof and to this end I provide a shield 5! which is hinged to the front edge of said seat and as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5 of the drawings. This shield comprises a plate of any suitable material having knuckles 52 the sterilizing chamber, and when the doors are I closed the shield together with the seat is closed within said chamber and is sterilized at the same time that the seat is sterilized.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim:

1. A sanitary toilet device including a toilet bowl, a toilet seat overlying said bowl, an anatomical protective shield supported by said seat and interposed between the seat and bowl to prevent contact of a person with the bowl, and means for automatically rendering said shield sanitary after each use.

2. A sanitary toilet device including a toilet bowl, a toilet seat overlying said bowl, an anatomical protective shield pivotally supported by said seat to prevent contact of a person with the bowl, and means for automatically rendering said shield sanitary after each use.

3. A sanitary toilet device including a toilet bowl, a toilet seat overlying said bowl, an anatomical protective shield pivotally attached to the front portion of said seat for interposition between it and the bowl, and means for automatically rendering said shield sanitary after each use.

4. A sanitary toilet device including a toilet bowl, a toilet seat pivotally supported relatively to said bowl, an anatomical protective shield carried by said seat for interposition between it and the bowl, and means for automatically rendering said shield sanitary after each use.

5. A sanitary toilet device including a toilet bowl, a pivotally mounted toilet seat positioned tooverlie said bowl, an anatomical protective shield pivotally carried by the front end of said toilet seat for interposition between it and the bowl, and means for automatically rendering said shield sanitary after each use.

6. A sanitary toilet apparatus including a sterilizing chamber, a toilet bowl associated with said chamber, a toilet seat, means for moving said seat into said chamber, and an anatomical protective shield positioned for interposition between said bowl and seat and carried by said seat for automatic sterilization in said chamber after each use.

7. A sanitary toilet apparatus including a sterilizing chamber, a toilet bowl associated with said chamber, a toilet seat pivotally mounted to overlie said bowl, means for moving said seat into said chamber, and an anatomical protective shield positioned for interposition between said bowl and seat and carried by said seat for automatic sterilization in said chamber after each use.

8. A sanitary toilet apparatus including a sterilizing chamber, a toilet bowl associated with said chamber, a toilet seat pivotally mounted relatively to said bowl and chamber, means for moving said seat into said chamber, and an anatomical protective shield pivotally attached to the front end of said seat for interposition between the seat and bowl, said shield being carried by said seat for automatic sterilization in said chamber after each use.

9. A sanitary toilet apparatus including a sterilizing chamber, a toilet bowl associated with. said chamber, a toilet seat unbroken at its front edge, means for moving said seat into said chamber, and an anatomical protective shield pivotally attached to the inner edge of said seat at the front edge thereof and for interposition between the seat and bowl, said shield being carried by said seat for automatic sterilization in said chamber after each use.

10. A sanitary toilet apparatus including a sterilizing chamber, a toilet bowl associated with said chamber, a toilet seat unbroken at its front edge but comprising side parts separated at its back edge, an anatomical protective shield pivotally attached to the inner edge of the front portion of the shield for interposition between the seat and bowl, and means for automatically moving said seat together with the shield attached thereto into said chamber after each use.

11. A sanitary toilet apparatus including a sterilizing chamber, a toilet bowl associated with said chamber, a toilet seat, means for moving said seat into said chamber, an anatomical protective shield carried by said seat for interposition between it and the bowl and for automatic positioning in said chamber, door's pivotally attached to the sides of said chamber, and means for swinging said doors laterally across said chamber.

12. A sanitary toilet apparatus including a sterilizing chamber of substantially the shape of a toilet seat, a toilet bowl associated with said chamber, a toilet seat unbroken at its front edge and having side parts pivotally supported at their rear and bottom ends, means for swinging said seat upwardly into said chamber, an anatomical protective shield pivotally attached to the front portion of said seat for interposition between it and the bowl, doors hinged to opposite sides of the chamber, and means for swinging said doors laterally across said chamber to close it.

GEORGE A. LONG. 

